Method for relieving waste stoppage in pipes by percussion



Nov. 21, 1961 c. c. LlPP ETAL METHOD FOR RELIEVING WASTE STOPPAGE INPIPES BY PERCUSSION lnve'nfor Carl C Lipp deceased SAllan L. K0

Original Filed May 10, 1955 merow and funley H. Komerow Executors CarlC. Lipp,Jr.

nited States This invention is a method for relieving waste stoppage inpipes by percussion and is a division of application, Serial Number507,345, filed by us May 10, 1955, now Patent No. 2,877,781.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method, which tests haveconclusively proven, will clear obstructions from pipes, including hardor soft grease deposits, dirt, stones and roots.

Further objects are to provide a method for clearing obstructions inpipes by passing shock waves through a conducting medium against theWaste stoppage; and to provide a method of the character described inwhich a percussion agent is detonated against a solid column of liquidto exert a force against the stoppage and move the latter in toto or todisintegrate it, with a sequential liquid flow for flushing the pipe.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the followingdescription of the present preferred form of the invention, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, wherein the figure is a sideelevational view of a waste pipe and percussion assembly illustratingthe method of the present invention, portions being broken away todisclose details.

The method of the present invention represents the culmination ofseveral years experiments under actual working conditions. During thistime attempts were initially made to dislodge or disintegrate wastestoppage by employing a percussion agent to bodily move a liquid columnthrough a pipe against waste stoppage, similar to the method disclosedin Patent No. 1,388,854, granted August 30, 1921, to R. L. Dezendorf.This method did not prove efiective, since the explosion of a cartridgeinto a pipe only partially filled with a liquid would not move theliquid with sufficient force to dislodge or disintegrate the wastestoppage. It Was then that the method of the present invention wasadopted and has proven eminently successful ever since. In accordancewith this method, instead of moving the liquid column against the wastestoppage, liquid, because of its relative incompressi-bility, can beused as a medium for transmitting shock waves generated by thepercussion agent from the percussion assembly to the waste stoppage.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing, 5 designates a wastepipe having a stoppage 6 lodged therein. Waste pipe 5 is incommunication with a vent 7 which extends upwardly therefrom. A liquidsupply pipe 8 is also in communication with waste pipe 5 and isconnected with a source for supplying a liquid 9, such as water, to thewaste pipe. The liquid may be introduced into the 3,009,837 PatentedNov. 21, 1961 ice Waste pipe from a garden hose or other suitable supplyconduit where it is not feasible to use the regular liquid supply pipe.The percussion unit or assembly 10 is detachably connected to one end ofthe Waste pipe, as illustrated in the drawing. Percussion assembly 10may be constructed as shown and described in our copending application,Serial Number 507,345, new Patent No. 2,877,781, and includes arotatable cartridge chamber 11, having an opening adapted to receive acartridge 12 fired by a firing pin 13. An operating handle 14 issuesfrom the upper terminal of chamber 11 and upon actuation rotates oroscillates the chamber to permit insertion and removal of cartridge 12.

In accordance with the method of the present invention, percussionassembly 10 is connected to the end of Waste pipe 5 in which stoppage 6is located. Water or other liquid 9 is supplied to pipe 5 until there isa solid liquid column from the locus of stoppage 6 to cartridge 12 topositively eliminate air pockets. While waste pipe 5 is being filledwith liquid, cartridge chamber 11 is in a closed or inoperativeposition, preventing liquid 9 from passing through the chamber. Handle14 is oscillated back and forth until there is a drippage of liquid 9through the cartridge chamber opening. This indicates a capacity load ofliquid in the system and handle 14 may then be operated so as to bringthe head of cartridge 12 into actual alignment With firing pin 13.Actuation of assembly 10 projects firing pin 13 against cartridge 12 todetonate the latter. Detonation of the cartridge sends shock wavesthrough liquid 9 in waste pipe 5 and into engagement with stoppage 6. Ifthe waste is not dislodged or disintegrated with the first charge, thecycle is repeated as often as is necessary, until the waste moves intoto or is disintegrated, following which the liquid flushes thestoppage through the pipe in an obvious manner.

It is, of course, understood that various liquids may be employed in thepresent method and other means could be used for generating shock wavesfor transmission through the liquid. Various other changes may be madein the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claim.

What we claim is:

A method for relieving waste stoppage in pipes which comprisesconnecting a percussion assembly including a blank cartridge with oneend of a pipe in which the waste stoppage is lodged, establishing asolid column of liquid in the pipe from the locus of the Waste stoppageto the blank cartridge, firing the blank cartridge into the solid columnof liquid to transmit shock waves through the liquid column against thewaste, for dislodging the latter, and permitting flow of the liquidthrough the pipe aft of the waste.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,238,269 Cornwell Aug. 28, 1917 1,388,854 Dezendorf Aug. 30, 19211,908,954 Carmin May 16, 1933 2,147,593 Bracken Feb. 14, 1939

